There are E bicycles out there that are meant to be pedaled without power or low power and E bicycles that are meant for mostly throttling. If a bicycle has large diameter tires, a modest battery and high range gearing, It's probably meant more for exercise and pedaling. If the bike has small diameter fat tires, poor gear range and a rear hub motor its probably built more for throttling and would pedal like a pig. Before you buy it, pedal it without power. If it feels like a bicycle, it's probably meant for pedaling. Don't get stuck with a pig to pedal if leisure pedaling and exercise are in your mix.
East TN has a high number of narrow roads without shoulders with punchy short hills. Where E TN is flat, is where all the traffic is. A mid drive bike will do the trick much better than a hub drive and a hub drive with small fat tires might leave you walking up hills. E TN is a tough place to ride a bike period.